Air lift pump



J. P. RUTH AIR LIFT PUMP Jan. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Dec. 3 1.953

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J. P. RUTH AIR LIFT PUMP Jan. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3, 1953 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. Joseph P. Ruth Attorney.

FIG. 5

ventioniconsists in the construction, arrangemen United States Patent AIR LIFT PUMP Joseph P. Ruth, Denver, Colo Application December 3', 1953, Serial-No. 396,049-

11 Claims. (c1; 2s--2s4)' Asa development from andranimprovement over'the disclosures of my applicationfor Letters Patentof the United States, Serial. No. 287,14-1;=filed' May 10,1952, this invention relates to internal combustion-engine exhausttgas conditioners of the type characterized by" an airlift-pump forfrthe agitation and; circulationof a water charge inureaction tor-and toeffectivewetting:relation with ,the inflow of exhaust gas tothe conditioner; and has asaanobject to: provide a novel and"improved-such-air lift-pumpefliciently. operative in association withsuch conditioners;

2,776,873 Patented Jan. 8, 1957 I Figure l is a cross section taken on theindicated line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, detailed elevation of the lower end of the air lift pump shown in the preceding views and as modified within the contemplation of the invention. I

As an environment for the novelties and improvements hereinafter elaborated, an exhaust gas conditioner unit (ifth'etype disclosed in'my earlier application is represented as including-a housing adapted'to'confine acharge of water and defined by endwalls 10, side wallsll; a bottom- 152, and a removable and replaceable top 13. Baflle s 14 dependfrom the top113 in spacedparallelisniw'i thupper portions of the end walls and'in clo' sii'ig relation with and betweenthe'side walls 11 to terminate in free margins well above the bottom 12,"and

' alreticul ateor foraminous sheettransversely of the AfllfthBr-ObjfiltOf the tinvention'is to provide a novel I I and improved construction andvoperativeassociation; of

elements constituting an air lift pumpin and for; ex-ha'ust gastconditioners. Y

A .furthenobject: of .the invention is -to provide a novel and improved. air lift pump: operative in association 'With an; exhaust; gas conditioner 1 to facilitate and to enhance dispersion of exhaust gas infeedthroughout-and tin inti 'mate contact .wit-hza water charge 2 A-. further object-ofthe invention'is to"provide ai1 "air lift pumpt for an exhaust gas conditionerthat :is susceptible ofilimited. adjustment and variation of its operativecharacteristics...

A furtherzobject oi the invention is tOzPIOVid'G 2; novel and; improved .airv .-liftpump for. an exhaustr= gas? conditioner that is susceptible of adjustment to=va'ry:the pr'opo.rtions of; gas: and water-fed: therethrough; 1

A'further objectof: the invention is to provicl'eianovel and improved air: lift pump an exhaust gas conditioner thatzzis characterized by flowpaths and flovvvelocities conducive: to thorouglrandi intimate comminglirig Tofi'gas and water.'-.separately fed: thereto. I

A further. objectof the invention is .to provide' ano've'l and: improved-rain liftipump for'ran' exhaust 5 gas con'cfitionere that is simple: "and inexpensive :of construction, adaptedefor -use-in and *with conditioner units? Toff diverse structural particularity; that is positive" 'an'd cfiioient' in attainment -of1the ends for which designed; andf which is adapted-for production to 'meet' an' infinite ran'g'iof'rizirti'ctularwoperating-irequirements.

Witl-r thesforegoing and tether objects in view; my h;

an operative combination- 1 'of elements "fast hereinafter: set forth,:= pointed out "in my claims; and :i'llustrated by" the accompanying drawings; in whicli+ Figured is anisometricview,- partially in 'sectiorf'to I showaothe'rwise "concealed: :construction," of= an exhaust partially: in "sectionito' show otherwise concealed don"struction, of the air lift pump shown in view 1, portio'ii's'bfthe viewebeing broken away to conserve space; A I

Figure 3* isia side ielevati'on of the"improvedairi'lift .showingrof fi'gu'rei'.

pumposimilarr toiand on a planeat righf 'angles 'to the through-la.diifusing member 19 ofventuriItype. A tubular conduit}20 closes at its lowerend against the botto'ni "12 aiid'ups'tands centrally within the housing and through the charge 16 to terminate in an open upper end ahove saif'd charge and spacedly below the top 13, 'and an eX- haiist'gas flow line 21 arranged to carry the exhaust'gas output of'an internal combustion 'engine 'connects through suitable fittingslwith the upper endoi a 'gas'inpiit line 22 sinters'ejctingthe top --13 and depehdinginteriorly of the h ojusingkwit-hin and in coaxialrelatiomwith' the conduit Zlljtditefminate in an open lowerend='adjacentthe base of 'tti con'duit and spaced upwardly'from the bottom 12.

WithQ the typical organization shown and above descifibe'd, the housing is charged with water to'a level below :the free lower margins of the-baflies- 14' and provision is made'for access of thewatefchaiigto the intefiorofjtheconduit base, so that, as exhaust gas' is introduced under the influence of its normal' pres'shre througlil the lines-2l and 22 interiorly and adjacent the bafsejof 'the conduit 20, uprise of the gas in the'sp'ace between" the conduit and the line 22 generatesa pumping actibfifetfective to circulateiwater andadmixed'gas upwardly-throughand outwardly from'the upper "end' of s'aid conduitiover and for percolation through the intersticed charge 16; the wetted gases being washed through tl'i'fef'uppef'portion of said charge to ultimate escape past the'free lower margins of the baffles 14'and away from the' housing through the nipples 17-, line 18; and'e'lement 19fand the drip from the charge 16"is.returned to the water body 'for repetitious recirculation.

All oft-the foregoing is in accord with my previous disclosures. and is herein represented only to'typify the structurallocus and operative environment 'wherewith the improvements herein below discussed are employable'with practical advantage and to effect enhanced eificiency c'onsequiit upon-a more thorough dispersion and wetting'of the gas' input'and a more complete and intimatemixture of the gas input with the water circulated through the conduit 20'deriving from the constructions and relationshipsfde tail'ed in the other views of the drawings as hereinafterdescribed'.

Qiv'ing'efle et to the principles of the present invention, the"conduit 20'is formed as. a right cylindrical, tubular memh'eroperfat such end and of appropriate length and thus to mount said conduit to upstand centrally of the housing and through the charge 16 with provision for adjustment in the spacing between the upper end of said conduit and the housing top 13 consequent upon rotation of the conduit in its threaded engagement with the ring or collar. The input line 22 is also formed as a right cylindrical, tubular member sized to telescope within the conduit 20 and to define an annular channel of appropriate capacity between its exterior surface and the inner wall of the conduit. The line 22 is open at each end and is exteriorly threaded, as at 24, adjacent its upper end, so that when the threads 24 are engaged with and to mount the line 22 through a fitting 25 carried by the housing top 13 rotation of said line relative to said fitting effects adjustment of the line altitudinally of the conduit 20 to determine the spacing of the lower end of the line 22 upwardly from the housing bottom 12. The altitudinal dispositions of the conduit 20 and the line 22 are adjusted as may be desired and the top 13 is then secured in position to close the housing, whereafter the exterior end of the line 22 is coupled, by means of any appropriate fittings, to and as a flow extension of the line 21.

Water from the charge within the housing about the base of the conduit 20 and about the ring or collar 23 is admitted to the interior of the conduit through a pair of like, diametrically-disposed, gate openings 26 intersecting the conduit walls above the ring or collar 23 and at some distance above the lower end of the line 22, said gate openings 26 preferably being of isosceles trapezoid form arranged with their lesser parallel margins lowermost and flush with preferably integral tongues 27 extended inwardly and radially of the conduit to abut the adjacent wall of the line 22. To facilitate assembly of the pump and to maintain the lower end of the line 22 centered within the base of the conduit 20, short ribs 28 are fixed interiorly and adjacent the lower end of the conduit to project radially and inwardly thereof in a uniform spacing between the tongues 27 for engagement against the exterior of the line 22, upper corners of said ribs 28 being beveled or inclined, a shown, to guide the line 22 into seated relation therebetween.

The elements of the improved pump are assembled and adjusted to dispose the lower end of the line 22 slightly below the lower end of the conduit 20 and to open for delivery of gas flow well above the housing bottom 12 and well below the plane of the tongues 27. Naturally, when there is no inflow of gas through the line 22, water from the housing charge will collect in the base of the conduit 29 and rise in the space between said conduit and the line 22 to the level of the housing charge. Initial inflow of the gas through the line 22 promptly clears water from the base of the conduit 20 and uprises between the conduit and line 22 with a pumping action which discharges the intermixed water and gas from the upper end of the conduit, and continued inflow of gas encounters water entering the conduit through the gate openings 26 in a metered amount determined by the area .of said. openings. The water entering the conduit is diverted by the tongues 27 and spread circumferentially of the line 22 at each side of each tongue and into the path of gas uprising past the tongue margins in divergent streams which tend to spiral oppositely and circumferentially of the line 22. As a consequence of the water diversion and gas stream divergence occasioned by the tongues 27, a very thorough dispersion of the gas in the form of fine bubbles is had throughout the volume of water entering the mixing passage, and the circumferential oscillation of the mixture flow resulting from the gas stream divergence effects a very thorough admixture of the gas and water such as insure complete wetting of the gas and consequent dissolving of the soluble gas constituents in the entrained water.

While it is generally practical to proportion the size of the gate openings 26 for appropriate admission of water in proper relation to the gas input of a given conditioner unit, the construction shown and described is convenient of adaptation for adjustment in the effective size of said gate openings in the manner indicated by Figure 5. A sleeve 29 may be telescoped over and fitted for rotation about the conduit 20 above the ring or collar 23 and in position to close over the gate openings 26, and said sleeve 29 may be apertured, as at 30, to expose the full areas of the gate openings 26 when said sleeve is in one position of rotation relative to the conduit, a set screw 31, or equivalent securing member, being provided to fix the sleeve 29 to and in any desired angular adjustment about the conduit. In the arrangement shown, thesleeve 29 is available to reduce the etfective open areas of the gates through which the water enters the conduit and to thereby determine the input of water in a desired proportioned relation to the infeed of the gas.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an exhaust gas conditioner having a housing adapted to contain water and an intersticed charge of ditfusing material transversely of the housing above the water therein, a pump for the circulation of the housingconfined water through said charge in reaction to the input of exhaust gases to the housing, saidpump comprising a conduit upstanding interiorly of the housing through said charge, a closed lower end on said conduit submerged in the housing-confined water, an open upper end on said conduit above said charge, means coaxial with and interiorly of said conduit defining an annular channel between its outer wall and the inner wall of the conduit, the lower end of said means being spaced above the closed lower end of the conduit, means for the input of exhaust gases through said first means to the lower end of the conduit for uprise through said annular channeLgate openings intersecting the conduit upwardly adjacent the lower end of said annular channel for the admission of water thereto, and a tongue radially and inwardly of the conduit at the lower end of each said gate opening in obstructing relation with said channel.

2. In an exhaust gas conditioner having a housing adapted to contain water and an intersticed charge of dilfusing material transversely of the housing above the water therein, a conduit upstanding interiorly of the housing through said charge, a closed lower end on said conduit submerged in the housing-confined water, an

.open upper end on said conduit above said charge, means coaxial with and interiorly of said conduit defining an annular channel between its outer wall and the inner wall of the conduit, the lower end of said means being spaced above the closed lower end of the conduit, means for the input of exhaust gases through said first means to the lower end of the conduit for uprise through said .annular channel, gate openings intersecting the conduit tamer-"s73 housis thrwgh -sa-idE:harge,-*a*1ostl iowerend'owsaid -con'duit submergetl in the housing=confined="water,* an --"*open'-upper-enilon sai'd con duit above said charge, an exhaust ga's input-line -coaxial with' anddntei-ibr-lybf said wcon'cluit defining an annular channeltbet-ween' its "outer wall and the inner wall of-ithe conduit,

the lowerend of aid line being spaced above the-'closed lower" end-of the econ'dui't to "discharge i its flow for uprise thr'ou'gh said aannular ehannel, gate openings intersecting" the conduit upwardly adjacent the lower end of said "line for the admission of water to said channel, and a tongue radially and inwardly of the con'duit atthe lower end of each said gate opening; and abuttingraulits inner: end against said .lineain obstructing relation with the -channel.

4."ln,an exhaust gas cori'ditioner"-having 'a'housing .i.aclapted"to contain water and an'intersticed charge of fflifiusjngmat'erial transversely o'fthe housing above the .iwater therein, a conduit adjustably gupstanding interiorly .'.of "thjehotising" through said charge, a close'dilowenend on said-conduit sub'merg'ed in "the "housing-confined water, an open upper end on said conduit above said charge, an exhaust gas input line coaxial with and interiorly of said conduit defining an annular channel between its outer wall and the inner wall of the conduit, the lower end of said line being adjustably spaced above the closed lower end of the conduit to discharge its flow for uprise through said annular channel, gate openings intersecting the conduit upwardly adjacent the lower end of said line for the admission of water to said channel, means adjustable to vary the effective areas of said gate openings, and a tongue at and coextensive in width with the lower end of each said gate opening disposed inwardly and radially of the conduit and abutting at its inner end against said line in obstructing relation with the channel.

5. In an exhaust gas conditioner having a housing formed with top and bottom members and adapted to contain water and an intersticed charge of difiusing material transversely of the housing between said top and bottom members, a collar fixed to and closing against the inner face of said bottom member in axially-perpendicular relation therewith, a right-cylindrical, tubular conduit threadedly engaged at its lower end in said collar to upstand interiorly of the housing through said charge with its open upper end above the charge, means coaxial with and interiorly of said conduit defining an annular channel between its outer wall and the inner wall of the conduit, the lower end of said means being spaced above the lower end of the conduit, means for the input of exhaust gases through said first means to the lower end of the conduit for uprise through said annular channel, gate openings intersecting the conduit upwardly adjacent the lower end of said annular channel for the admission of water thereto, and a tongue radially and inwardly of the conduit at the lower end of each said gate opening in obstructing relation with said channel.

6. In an exhaust gas conditioner having a housing formed with top and bottom members and adapted to contain water and an intersticed charge of diffusing material transversely of the housing between said top and bottom members, a collar fixed to and closing against the inner face of said bottom member in axially-perpendicular relation therewith, a right-cylindrical, tubular conduit threadedly engaged at its lower end in said collar to upstand interiorly of the housing through said charge with its open upper end above the charge, an exhaust gas input line threadedly mounted through the housing top member and depending coaxially and interiorly of the conduit to define an annular channel between its outer wall and the inner wall of the conduit, the lower end of said line being spaced above the lower end of the conduit to discharge its flow for uprise through said annular channel, gate openings intersecting the conduit upwardly adjacent the lower end of said line for the admission of water to the channel, and a tongue radially and inwardly of the conduit at the lower end of each gate opening and 6 abuttin-g at its innerend against said line indbst'ructing 're'latiorrwiHi tite-channel.

75-111 ""an e'xhaust gas '-coiiditi'oner"*having a*liou"sing formed"-with=-top-'antl"bottom members 'andad'apted to contain-water and an intcrsticedcharge*of difiusinginate- --ri al=* transversely of the' 'housing between" said 'to'pand bo'tto'm" members, -'a' collan fixedtb and closing againstfthe inner f-ace of saidbottomme'mber infaxially-perpendiculardelation therewith, wright-cylindrical," tubularcontluit 10 threadedlyengaged -at=its"lower endimsaid 'c'ollar to upstand interiorly ofthe-lh'ousing throughsaid charge with "tsopemupper'end above the ch-arge,"an"exhaust gas input line threadedlymountedthroughthe' "-hou's'inguop member and riependingcoaxiallyand interiorlyiofthe conduit to define an annular channebbetween "its outer wan and the innerwall' of-theconduifithe" lowerend 'of said -litieb'eing -spaced'above the lower end' o'fithe'conduitfto'discharge its "flow foruprise'-thr,ou"gh said 'annularvchannel', ribs 'instanding radially 6f the conduit in centering engagement 2'0- withthe-'lower"enii* df saidlin'e, "gate'o'pening s intersecting theconduit between said ribs"andupwardlwatljacent the lower end of said line for the admission of water to the channel, means adjustable to vary the effective areas of said gate openings, and a tongue at and coextensive in width with the lower end of each said gate opening disposed inwardly and radially of the conduit and abutting at its inner end against said line in obstructing relation with the channel.

8. In an air lift pump having a tubular conduit upstanding from a closed lower end adapted to be submerged in water, an open upper end on said conduit, a member coaxial with and interiorly of said conduit in spaced relation of its lower end above the conduit closed end, said conduit and member coacting to define an annular channel between the outer wall of the member and the inner wall of the conduit, means for the input of gas through said member to the lower end of the conduit for uprise through said channel, and means for the admission of water to said channel, means promotive of intimate gas and water admixture as an incident of water elevation through said channel, said latter means comprising gate openings constituting the means for the admission of water to the channel intersecting said conduit upwardly adjacent the lower end of said member and a tongue radially and inwardly of the conduit at the lower end of each gate opening and'abutting at its inner end against said member in obstructing relation with the channel.

9. In an air lift pump having a tubular conduit upstanding from a closed lower end adapted to be submerged in water, an open upper end on said conduit, a member coaxial with and interiorly of said conduit in spaced relation of its lower end above the conduit closed end, said member and conduit coacting to define an annular channel between the outer wall of the member and the inner wall of the conduit, means for the input of gas through said member to the lower end of the conduit for uprise through said channel, and means for the admission of water to'said channel, means promotive of intimate gas and water admixture as an incident of water elevation through said channel, said latter means comprising gate openings constituting the means for the admission of water to the channel intersecting said conduit upwardly adjacent the lower end of said member and a tongue radially and inwardly of the conduit at the lower end of each gate opening and abutting at its inner end against said member in obstructing relation with the channel; together with means adjustable to vary the efiective areas of said gate openings.

10. In an air lift pump having a tubular conduit upstanding from a closed lower end adapted to be submerged in water, an open upper end on said conduit, a gas input line coaxially with and interiorly of said conduit with its delivery end spaced above the conduit closed end, said line and conduit coacting to define an annular channel between the outer wall of said line and the inner wall of the conduit for the uprise of the delivered gases, and means for the admission of water to said channel, means promotive of intimate gas and water admixture as an incident of water elevation through said channel, said latter, means comprising gate openings constituting the means for the admission of water to the channel intersecting said conduit upwardly adjacent the delivery end of said line and a tongue at and coextensive in width with the lower end of each said gate opening disposed inwardly and radially of the conduit and abutting at its inner end against said line in obstructing relation with the channel.

11. In an air lift pump having a tubular conduit upstanding from a closed lower end adapted to be submerged in water, an open upper end on said conduit, a gas input line coaxial with and interiorly of said conduit with its delivery endspaced above the conduit closed and, said line and conduit coacting to define an annular channel between the outer wall of said line and the inner wall of the conduit for the uprise of the delivered gases, and

incident of water elevation through said channel, said latter means comprising gate openings constituting the means for the admission of water to the channel intersecting said conduit upwardly adjacent the delivery end of said line and a tongue at and coextensive in width with the lower end of each gate opening disposed inwardly and radially of the conduit and abutting at its inner end against said line in obstructing relation with the channel; together with means adjustable to vary the effective areas of said gate openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 441,056 Castor Nov. 18, 1890 542,620 Bacon July 16, 1895 579,069 Thompson Mar. 16, 1897 585,683 Leyner July 6, 1897 2,138,153 Grisdale Nov. 29, 1938 2,678,261 Ruth May 11, 1954 

1. IN AN EXHAUST GAS CONDITIONER HAVING A HOUSING ADAPTED TO CONTAIN WATER AND AN INTERSTICED CHARGE OF DIFFUSING MATERIAL TRANSVERSELY OF THE HOUSING ABOUT THE WATER THEREIN, A PUMP FOR THE CIRCULATION OF THE HOUSINGCONFINED WATER THROUGH SAID CHARGE IN REACTION TO THE INPUT OF EXHAUST, GASES TO THE HOUSING, SAID PUMP COMPRISING A CONDUIT UPSTANDING INTERIORLY OF THE HOUSING THROUGH SAID CHARGE, A CLOSED LOWER END ON SAID CONDUIT SUBMERGED IN THE HOUSING-CONFINDED WATER, AN OPEN UPPER END ON SAID CONDUIT ABOVE SAID CHARGE, MEANS COAXIAL WITH AND INTERIORLY OF SAID CONDUIT DEFINING AN ANNULAR CHANNEL BETWEEN ITS OUTER WALL AND THE INNER WALL OF THE CONDUIT, THE LOWER END OF SAID MEANS BEING SPACED ABOVE THE CLOSED LOWER END OF THE CONDUIT, MEANS FOR THE INPUT OF EXHAUST GASES THROUGH SAID FIRST MEANS TO THE LOWER END OF THE CONDUIT FOR UPRISE THROUGH SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL, GATE OPENINGS INTERSECTING THE CONDUIT UPWARDLY ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL FOR THE ADMISSION OF WATER THERETO, AND A TONGUE RADIALLY AND INWARDLY OF THE CONDUIT AT THE LOWER END OF EACH SAID GATE OPENING IN OBSTRUCTING RELATION WITH SAID CHANNEL. 